Electric lantern



op L. HALL.

ELECTRIC LANTERN Filed Nov. 27. 1922 4 Sheets-Shae? l jfzue/zi'or .L. HALL ELECTRIC LANTERN 4 Shuts-J set 2 Filed NOV. 27, 1922 v llllllllllllllllll 63 Sept. 29, 1925.

- L. HALL ELECTRIC LANTERN Filed Nov. 27. 192; 4 squetbsnug 5 I, I zue/zfoz ZEe/Z QZZ/ :oNiTED STATES PAU'FI'ENT 01 mg.

Patented Sept. 29, 1925.

HALL, or onxoireo, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR. TO FEDERAL ELECTRIC, COMPA1TY, or

p f onxone -i'rnmorsn GORPORATIQN OF ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC LANTERN.

Application filed November 27, 1922. Serial-No.j60l3,428.

To all whom it 'nmy concern: i 7

Be It known that 1, LEE HA L, a clt zen of: the United States, and -a resident'of Chicago,-county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain Improvements in Electric Lanterns; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact c'lescriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters of reference, marked thereon, which formapartof thisspecification. 1

This invention relatesto improvements in electriclanterns andconsists ofthe matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The object of the invention isto produce an electric lantern primarily designed for use by railroad employees, as conductors, brakemen, car inspectors, and the like, which is simple in construction and cheap and economical vin manufacture, which is readily folded into compact form; which has a yielding, shock absorbing baseso that it may be. handled and used with the minimum danger of breakage or. derangement when dropped; and which is so constru'ctedthat it may be easily changed or altered to be used either as a signal lantern or as an inspection lantern. I

Theseand other objectsof the invention will more-fully appearas I proceed with myspecilication.

1In,-the.drawings:- l i 1, F'g. 1 is a View representinga side elevation of myimproved electric lantern as it appears when inuse. g

.Fig. 2 is detail horizontal section through the lantern in apla'ne-indicated' by the line 22 of Fig. 1. i I

Fig. 3- is .a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2. 1 y Fig. 4 is a view onan enlarged scale representing avertical central section *through the lantern in the plane ofthe pivotal axis ofthejba'le. r ,1 1 M Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of the bottom part of the lantern showing the guard for the-globe opened up to facilitate the removalof the lamp and of the globe.

-Fig. 6 is'a bottom plan View ofthe-lantern as it appears Whenlooked atfrom below.

F ig.-7- is a'to'p plan View of the part of the lantern located below the line 7 7 of i i t l Fig. 8 aview representing a horizontal;

Fig. .4.

section through the. lantern in a, plane indie. cated by the line 8 8 ofFig. r

' Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the at;

minal end of thebattery used in the lantern. Fig. 10 is a part vertical sectional view of thebottom end of the lantern illustrating as it appears with a large secondary re flector attachedthereto,

Fig. 11 is a horizontal sectional view. taken on the line 11- 11 ofFigg-lO. a I Referring now to that embodiment ofgthe invention illustrated in the;drawings:-l5 indicates the body of the lantern; 16 indi-' cates the bale; 17, 17 indicate threelegs which are inclined outwardly from the body and provide a wide, amplebase; and 18 indicates the electric bulb which is the light: ing member of thelanterng f The body of the lantern consists of. a cylindrical metal shell, which hasan in? tegral, closed top 15 andwhich is open at the bottom, with a flaring, outwardlyl'ex tendingiiange 15 arcuate in transverse cross section. 19 indicates a hinged bottom closure forthe: open end of the shell. This consists of a flat disc of insulation material, such as hardrubber, of a diameter adapting it to fit easily within the'shell1 5. jSaid disc 19 is held in place by means of a heavy wire ring 20, which is hinged to. the -f lange-15? at one side and is detachably latchedto said flange; at a point diametrically opposite to the hinge. i

i As shown in Fig. 6, the hinge connection of thering 20 is provided by two "spaced ears 21, 21, perforated to receive the ring and riveted to the flange.15 The latch consists of a metal piece 22 with a'com paratively long journal part 23 (-see Figs. 2 .3 and 10); having bearingon the ring and of an ,arcuatehook 24: adaptednto engage the arcuate topsurface of the flange 15 A, thumb screw 26, threaded through the hook 24, extends radially through a hole in the flange 15 to a seat 27 in thejournal part 23 of the latch and retains ,the, latch in hooked relation withthe flange 15", The hook 24 has an upright lug25 with'a curved notch 2.? which is opposed to and complements the arch or hollow 26 in the headzof angle having a 17 to receive the ring 20 -and are' then brought inwardly beyond fsaid" eyes, thus providing short horizontal arms 17 which engage against the'bottom of the disc 19 and actto. support and retain the said disc within thering' 20. One oi? the legs 1'? is locatedwith its eyes and arms-17, 17*- between the ears 21, 21, to which the ring 20 is hinged. This determines the location of the other legs on the" ring 520 When the lanternjis'in use,the legs 17 are spread apart as indicated in full lines in Fig.1, so that thefbases 17? of the triangular legs provid'e 'an' ample base for the lantern.

The bale 16 is pivoted tothe lantern body 15 in such manner that it may be swung in one direction from a vertical position above the body, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1,- to a vertical position below the body, as

shown in dotted'lin'es insaid figure. The

pivotal-connection, however, is such that when swung in the opposite direction, as from the position shown in dotted lines to the position shown in full lines, the movement of the bale in that direction will be ar rest-ed when it reaches the vertical position and it is immovable'in that direction beyond the said vertical position. The bale 16 is preferably made of rattan orthe like, and is ,cf suflicient'thickness to give [a coinfer-table grip the hand. It is fixed at itsen'dsin metal socket arms 16216". Said arms, 16,- 16", are pivoted to the shell 15 by inealns'of right and left threaded belts or screws 29, 30, which turn with the bale;

'1 Each bolt is threaded through a sleeve 31 which has a base flange 32 riveted against the inner surface er the shell 16,'the sleeve itself extending through'a suitable opening in said shell. The bale arm is locked to the boltby ineans of a spring washer 33 wh ich hol'ds th'ebale arm against the bolt head, so that the 'baleKarm, when it swings, will rotate the bolt; The parts are so arranged that bothbolts-will be screwed up as tightlyas they may be when the bale arms have been brought to vertical position, thus, preventing further movement in that direction. A movement of the bale arms in theopposite direction is possible by reason of the unscrewing movement of the bolts.

Each leg 17 consists .of apiece The shell 15 is adapted to contain the usual dry cell battery 38*. Said battery is substantially rectangular in section with rounded corners (see Fig. 9), which engage against the curved sides of the shell.

The shell is of such dimensions as toreceive the ordinarycommercial battery of the kind.

The battery is retained in the shell by the (closure 19 and by said closure is held against a yielding, sprin backing or stop 34 interposed between tie top wall 15 of the shell and the top end of the battery. Said stop consists of a flat disc 35 comprised, as shown, of a metal disc having an insulation covering next to the top end of the and of a helical spring 36. Said battery, I spring has an eye 36 at its bottom end, in which the disc 35-is riveted and athreaded stem 36" at its top end, which extends througha suitable hole in the top wall 15 of the shell. The spring is held in placeby means of a nutBT, shownin Fig. 1.

The battery has the usual two spring contacts 38-, 39, at its bottom end. A flat metal ring 40 carried above the closure 19 is adapted for engagement with the -spring contact 38 and a small disc 41 supported,"as will presently be described, at the center of and in the plane of the ring 40, is adapted for engagement with the contact 39. i v

' The ring 40 has attached to it"threedepending pins, 42, 42,- 42, which are'spaced at angles of 120 about the periphery 'of the ring and extend through holes in the in sulation'cl0sure'19r-Said closure 19 has a reinforcing circular rib 19 on its bottom side, the same being enlarged to provide thicken-ed bosses 19 19 surrounding the holes through which the pins 42 extend. 43 indicates a spacing ring also made of insulation material, the same beingconceib trio with the closure 19 and having ahorizontal flange 43 whichengages against the bottom surface of the rib 19. Said ring as well asthe rib 19 of the closure 19, has three thickened bo'sses44, each spaced at equal distances apart between-the enlargements 19 andprovided with aligned"holes to receive bolts 45 with thumb nuts 45*, which secure the spacing ring and closure together. As shown and preferably, the said bosses 44 and the bosses 19 are so disposed that each boss 44 is located between a pair of arms 17 on the legs 17, so that said arms engage nt each side of said'bosms, as shown Fig. 11-, and the legs and-discs are interlocked against movement about a movement of the pin. The contact studs are rounded at their-bottom ends and normally engage against a flat fibre ring 49 which is held against the bottom of the ring 43. The bosses through which the boltsextend,

have reduced ends 44*, which'project below the bottom plane ofthe ring 43 and extend through arcuate slots in the fibre ring 49. A metallic shell 52 comprising a lamp socket, 52, areflector, 52", and a ring flange 52, hasits ringflange in contact with and riveted to the fibre ring 49. The aforesaid reduced boss ends 44* project through arcuate slots 52 in the ring flange 52 similarly placed to those-in the fibre ring 49, The slots permit the insulation ring 49 andthe metallic ring flange 52to be rotatedns a unit adistance equal to the length of the slots 50, 52*. Spaced from the points normally engaged by the contacts 42* arcuate distances equal to the length of the slots 50,

52 ,-holes 51 are provided in the insulation ring 49 (see Fig, 8). When the unit, comprised of the ring 49 and the ring flange 52,

is rotated through the arcuate length of the slots 50, 52*, the holes 51 in the ring 49 will be brought below the contacts 42 which will drop through the'said holes andeiigage the ring flange 52, thus establishing electric 'connection'betweenthe ring 40 and the/sock et52. w

The centrally located disc 41 (which engages the contact 39 ofthe battery) carries a. depending pin 41?; ,Said pin extends through a centrally disposed bossin the insulation disc 19 and isprovided at its bot-.

tom end with acontact stud 41 of larger diameter, as in the case of the contact stud 42*. The contactstud and. pin 41*, 41 normally hang down with the disc 41 in engagement with the top of the insulation disc 19; but when'a lamp p'lugis inserted in the socket shell 52 the central contact of said plug engagesthe bottom end of the contact stud 41 andraises it"u'ntil the shoulder at the top of said stud engages the bottom of the boss through which the pin 41 extends and arrests further upward movement of the pin. The parts are. so designed that this will occur when, the disc 41 has reached the plane of the ring40. .The central contact stud 41" is thus'normally always in contact with the'lamp plug. f A slight turn of the unit comprised of the ring 49, '52, which unit constitutes a switch member, will manifest- 1y. turn the lamp on orofi". f

54indiclates a globewhich is suspended in place below the lamp bulb 18 by means of a basket comprising three arms, 55, 56, 56, spaced at angles of 120 (seeFig. 6). Said arms havehooks55 at their top ends, which are engaged on the bolts 45 and are held thereon againstthe bottom of the ring flange 52 by the thumb nuts 45*; Two, 01 the arms 56, 56," are made integral, whereasthe Other,

55, is connected by a suitable eye to theloop in which the 'bottom ends of said arms 56, 56, terminate, so that the arm 55 isfcapable of a downward swinging movement to open up a space through which the globe 54 i ay be removed laterally when desired. The lamp as thus assembled, provides the usual signal light and may be usedwith or without the globe 54 as desired. The globe 54 may be of white opaque glass or it maybe colored, depending upon the signal tobe given.

For signal service the reflector 52 is sufficient. For inspection service, however, a larger reflector is required and I, therefore, provide afisecond reflector 57 (see Fig. 10) which is much larger thanthereflector'52. Said reflector, as shown, is madewith an apertured base 58 adapted to fit within the reflector 52 and is otherwise made large enough to embrace and fit upon the top of the shell 15, as shown in Fig. 4. By making the large reflector in this manner it is possible, whenthelarger refiector is not needed, to mount it on'top of the shell 15', as shown in Fig. 4, the reflector being retainedthereon bya thumb screw 59 which has a head 60 larger than the aperture in the base of the reflector, and which'h'as a threaded socket 61 adapted to be screwed upon the projecting screw end 36 of the spring 36 in lieu of the nut 37 heretofore referred to. The reflector is provided with arcuatelyspaced angle lugs 62 and a ring63 providedwith lug flanges 64 which carry thumb screws 65, is detachably secured to said angle lugs 62 by means of thumb screws, in a familiar manner. When the large reflector is to be applied to the lantern, the thumb nuts 45" are removed, thebasket 55"and globe 54 are taken from the lamp andtheringz63 isapplied below the flange 52, said ring 63 beingprovided with suitable apertures for the bolts 45. The thumb nuts"45 are thenreplaced andthis' securesthe reflector in position.

The spacing ring 43 is of greater diameter than the rib 19 on the bottom side of theclosure 19 with which it is engaged (see Fig. 4) and the inner ends of the arms 17 of the legs 17 are engaged abovetherprojecting part of said spacingring,as clearly to be seen in-Figs. 4 and 6. {By this construction, the legs are held securely against outward swingingmovement, since a downward movement of the ring 43*lS prevented by the indirect engagement of the bottom closure 19 with the ring20. Thus, a strong, rigid basis is presented by the legs,*which is capable of withstanding any pressure or jar which would tend to spread the legs apart.

On the other hand, by reason of theengagementof the arms 17 against the bottom of the closure 19, and the possibility "of upward yielding movement of the closure. 19, due to the spring backing or stop '34 in.- terposed between the battery and the top Wall of the lanternbody, each of the legs may yield to a lateral shock,tending to fold the leg under the lantern body, and all the legs-maybe forcibly swung together under the-lantern bail in a position; to' be. engaged by theba-il, .as shown inidotted lines in Fig. l. such ananipulation of the bail and legs brings the-lantern into smallcompass so that it may be easily and readily handled whennot in use. U i 1 hen it is desired to reneivthe battery, the latch 22 is detached from the flange 151 and the rin 'QQ with the closure and its at tached parts thereon is swung down into the position indicated in the dotted lines in Fig". 4, The old battery is then removed and replaced by a new one and the parts returned to theirfirst position. The top tace'ot the, closure 19, when the parts. are in open position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. .4, presents a flat guidingfacefor the flat side otthe'battery when inserted into thebody.@ Bythe construction and arrangement of the contact studs andthe connecting ring 40 and disc 41 with reference to the battery above said'ring and disc, and the spring stop or backing 34. interposedbetween the closed top end ofthelantern bodv shell and the top end of the battery, electric contact between the battery and the-lamp is always insured. The spring 36 is made quite heavy and acts with snfficient force to always produce the contact referred to, even when the lantern is inverted so that the lamp is above the body,it being necessary in such case for the spring to be heavy enough to more thansupport the Weight of the battery,

The several advantages of the lantern and its operation are readily appaientt'mm the foregoing descriptionp lVhile indescribing it, I have referred toma-ny details of mechanical construction and arrangement, it is to be understood that the inven tion is in no Way limited thereto except as may be pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1 v -1. In an electric lantern, the combination of atubular body, a bail'connected to said body, 'a' yielding closure at the bottom end of said body for supporting ,an electric lamp and a baseconnected to said body, comprising a'plurality of legs having arms engaged with said closure and'adapted to yield to lateral shocks or blows. 2; In an electric lantern, the combination of a tubular body, closed at itstop and open at its bottom, a bail connected to said body, a closure of insulation hinged to the bottom of said body and adapted to support a battery Wit-hin'the body and to hold a lamp below the body, means for lockingsaid closure in position, and a base comprising a plurality of legs, each having parts engag ing said closure. I 1 p a a t -3; In an electric lantern, the combination of a tubular body, open at its bottom end,-a ring hinged to said open bottom end at one sideof said body, aclosure of insulation inovable'with said 'ri.ng,.said closure being adapted ,to hold. a battery ivithin the body, and an electric lamp below the body, and means carried by said ring at a point spaced from itshinged connection for locking said ring to said body.

4.111 an electric lantern, the' combination. of a tubular body, open at its bottom end, a i'inghinged to said open end of said. body, means for locking said ringto said body, a closure ofinsulation forthe open bottom end of said body, said closure being adapted tohold a battery Within the body, and an electric lamp below the body, and. a base for saidbody comprising a plurality. of legs hinged to; said ring, said legs each having parts engaged with saidclosure for operatively connecting said closure and ,ring to: gethen, ,j

5, In an electric lantemn the combination of a tubnlar body, open at its bottomend and closed at its top end, a ringhinged to the openend of said body, means for, locking said ring to said body, a closure of insulation for the open end of saidbody,said closure beingv adapted to hold a battery, within tlm body, and an electric lamp-below the body, spring means carried by the closed top end of thecasing for holding the battery against said closure, and a base for the body com, prising aplurality of legs hinged .tosaid ring, each leg having parts engaging said closure so that said legs will transmit lateral shocks orblows to said spring means, and will yield under the 'actionot such shocks andblows;v 1

6. In an electric lantern,.t hei combination of a tubular body havinga flaring, radial flange at its open bottom end, a ring hinged to said flange on one sideofthe body, a base comprising a plurality of legs hinged to said ring, a closure for the bottomend of said body, operatively connected .to said ring through said legs, a hook rotativeon'said ring at a point opposite its hingedgconnection with said flange, adapted ttozengage 'said flange, and means for locking the hook lto said flanger r 7 In an electriolantermthe combination of atnbnlar body-having a flaring radial flange, at. its open bottom end, a ring hinged tosaid flange on one side of the casing a. base comprising aplurality of legs hinged. to said ring, a closure for the bottom end of said body, operatively connected to saidring through said legs, a hook rotative on said ring at a point opposite its hinged connection with said flange, adapted toengage said flange and ripherally mqaoor flange,f and iineans' forlocking the hook to said flange,:said1means including a set screw carried by, said hook and adapted to be threaded through the flange a and into the bearingtofisaid hook.

8. In an electriclantern, the'combination of a ,tubular ,body' having a] flaring radial flange at its opent bottom end, a ring hinged to said flange on one side ofnthe casing, a base comprising a plurality of legs hinged to said ring, a closure for the bottom end of said body, operatively connected to said ring through said legs, a hook having a journal rotative on said ring at a point opposite its hinged connection with said flange, said hook being adapted to engage said including a lug with a curved notch and a thumb screw threaded through said hook and flange and into the journal of said hook, said thumb screw having a pegrooved head which is opposed to and complements the curved notch in said lugto receive between them, the hasp of a padlock.

'9. In an electric lantern, the combination of a tubular body, a bail pivoted to said body and adapted tobe swung in one direction from a fixed vertical position above the body into a vertical position below the body, a base for the body comprising a plurality of legs hinged to the bottom end thereof, means acting to swing said legs radially outward, said legs being capable of being swung inwardly toward each other into a grouped relation and to be engaged and held by the bail after the same has been swung into a position below the body.

10. In an electric lantern, the combination of a tubular body, open at its bottom end, a closure of insulation hinged to said bottom end, and adapted to support a battery within the body, contact members carried by said closure for engagement with the terminals of said battery, and a combined reflector and lamp socket on said closure below the body, said combined reflector and lamp socket being capable of a limited rotative movement with respect to said closure for making and breaking the circuit from the battery to said lamp.

11. In an electric lantern, the combination of a tubular body open at its bottom end, a closure of insulation for said open bottom end of the body, and adapted to support a battery within said body, contact rings on the inner face of said closure adapted for engagement with the terminals of the battery, contact pins connected to said contact rings and extending through said closure, and capable of a limited movement therethrough, and a combined reflector and lamp socket mounted on the bottom face of said closure and capable of a limited rotative movement with respect thereto, said reflector and lamp socket having parts whicliin one position of the same are en gagml with and are electrically connected to said pins, and whiclrwhen in another the circuit from the battery to the Inwan electric lantern, the combina:

tion of. a tubular body, open at its bottom end, a closure o f insulationi for saidopen bottom end oi the body, adapted to support a battery within said body, contact rings on the inner face of said closure adapted for engagement with the terminals of the battery, contact pins connected to said contact rings and extending through said closure, and capabl of a limited movement therethrough, a combined reflector and lamp socket mounted on the bottom surface of said closure, means securing said reflector and lamp socket to said closure but permitting a limited rotative movement between the two, and an insulation ring on said reflector and lamp socket having openings therein, adapted in one position of said reflector and lamp socket to permit engagement and contact of said pins with said reflector and lamp socket, and in another position of the same to disengage and insulate said pins from the reflector and lamp socket.

13. In an electric lantern, the combination of a tubular body openat its bottom end, a closure of insulation for said open bottom end of said body, and forming a support for a battery within said body, contact members carried by said closure for engagement with the terminals of the battery, a combined reflector and lamp socket on sald closure, outside the body, said combined reflector and-lamp socket being capable of a limited rotative movement with respect to said closure for making and breaking the circuit from the battery to said lamp, a globe engaging the reflector and enclosing the lamp, and a guard basket comprising a plurality of arms secured to said closure, one of which is connected to the other so that it may be swung downwardly to permit removal of said globe from the reflector.

14;. In an electric lantern, the combina tion of a tubular body, open at its bottom end and closed at its top end, a closure for said open bottom end adapted to support a battery in said body, a lamp associated with said closure, a reflector for said lamp, means for securing said reflector to said closure, a second and larger reflector adapted to fit upon the closed top end of the body and to be removably secured thereto, said second reflector having parts adapted to fit within the first reflector and to be secured in position therein by the same means which secure said first reflector to said closure.

the top end of said memo? to vnrleke eleot 'ic-ieonnection with said contacts, and sprlng means interposed between body andsaid battery adapted to maintain the engegement oi the battery terminals, the several cOntact-membars and saidswitch member.

In testimony that I 'cleim the foregoing as o my inve ti n," I afiix my signature, this 231ddfiy o f Noviy-A. 1922." j

LEE HALL. 

